Aussie-Style Wake-Up Call: How Many More, Mates?
We all know our justice system’s got a few rusty hinges, but this latest yarn takes the Tim Tam. A scathing Guardian Australia investigation has uncovered that 57 inmates have died across 19 Aussie prisons using hanging points authorities already knew about.
Some of those same points were flagged by coroners and experts years ago. In true Aussie government style? They were left untouched.
“Every death in custody is a tragedy… the number of deaths caused by hanging points is deeply concerning,” said Attorney General Michelle Rowland, giving state governments a not-so-gentle shove at the Standing Council of Attorneys-General.
Custom Table: Known Hanging Deaths by State
| State/Territory | Deaths Linked to Known Hanging Points | Notable Cases |
|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | 20 | Gavin Ellis (Silverwater, 2017) |
| Queensland | 16 | 10 deaths at Arthur Gorrie Prison (2001–2020) |
| South Australia | 14 | Multiple failures across a decade |
| Western Australia | 7 | Known points not removed despite warnings |
| Total (Nationwide) | 57 | Across 19 prisons |
Highlights of Institutional Failure
- Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre (QLD):
Same exposed bars used in 10 suicides—despite 2007 warnings to “immediately” remove them. - Mental Health Misses:
Gavin Ellis, suffering from a psychotic disorder, wasn’t seen by a psychiatrist for six weeks. Hung himself in a cell with a known ligature point. - Coronial Findings Ignored:
Across all states, coroners told authorities to fix or cover hanging points. Most recommendations were shelved like old tax receipts.
“No Deaths Penalty – Just Death by Neglect”
The cruel irony? Australia doesn’t have capital punishment, but we’re still creating death traps in prison cells.
“The system doesn’t have capital punishment, yet it leaves hanging points for inmates to use,”
– Cheryl Ellis, mother of Gavin Ellis
“It’s totally unacceptable,”
– Pat Dodson, former senator & Royal Commission member
More than 30 years after the 1991 Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody recommended removing hanging points and reducing incarceration rates, we’re still here—with Indigenous Australians dying at disproportionate rates.
Indigenous Impact (2023)
| Metric | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Indigenous population in Australia | ~3% |
| Indigenous people in prison | 33% |
| Indigenous deaths in custody (2025) | Disproportionate & rising |
“They are being failed by an oppressive system,”
– Katie Kiss, Social Justice Commissioner
Expert Fixes? We’ve Had Them for Decades
The 1991 Royal Commission’s recommendations were clear:
- Remove hanging points
- Improve mental health access inside jails
- Divert vulnerable populations, especially First Nations people, away from custody
So what’s the holdup? State governments say they’re “investing in long-term cell safety upgrades.” But many of those deaths came after those plans were “in progress.”
Wrap-Up
So, here’s the rub: we’ve got 57 lives lost, bars flagged as hazards and left untouched, mental health systems stretched thinner than a serviette at a Bunnings sausage sizzle, and a federal attorney general saying what everyone else has been screaming for years.
This isn’t just a bureaucratic whoopsie—it’s a decades-long national disgrace that requires federal leadership, accountability, and actual action. Not just another “taskforce” destined to be filed in some dusty cabinet under “too hard.”
